Gaming Giant Krafton Set to Invest $150 Million In Indian Gaming Startups

South Korean gaming company Krafton has said that it will invest $150 million (₹1242 Crores) into Indian gaming and interactive entertainment startups in the next 2-3 years. The company has already invested around $140 million across 11 Indian startups since 2021. The Seongnam-based company which was founded in 2018 has supported homegrown gaming startups like NODWIN Gaming and Loco, mobile game development studios Nautilus Mobile and Lila Games, alongside Indian platforms like the audio hub Kuku FM and an Indian language storytelling app Pratilipi.

Krafton CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn has shared his interest in nurturing the startup ecosystem in India, across tech, gaming and the content landscape. The company mainly seeks out gaming and entertainment startups positioned within Series A to Series B stages and has recently expanded its scope to include the creator economy. 

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"We firmly believe in India’s potential as a key player in the global gaming and technology industry, and our commitment to investing an additional $150 million over the next two to three years reflects our dedication to fueling this growth. " Sean Hyunil Sohn said. He further added, "We believe in the power of Indian IPs and content in making a lasting global impact, and we are excited to achieve new milestones in our journey to unlock the country's full potential as a global gaming powerhouse."

One of Krafton's most noteworthy products was Krafton's Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), the popular mobile game which was relaunched for a trial period in May after a 10-month ban. The Indian government blocked BGMI, the flagship game made by Krafton last July, citing concerns about its data-sharing and mining in China. 

In 2020, India also banned another Krafton title, the popular game, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), following which the company launched BGMI. The ban on PUBG was part of a larger ban on more than 300 Chinese apps, including the video platform TikTok, which was a result of a 2020 clash between the neighbours.